St Michael's Church, East Peckham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Michael's, East Peckham |
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 St Michael's, East Peckham
Location in Kent
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| 51°14′40″N 0°22′50″E / 51.24444°N 0.38056°E | |
| OS grid reference | TQ 661 521 |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | St Michael's, East Peckham |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Michael |
| Administration | |
| Parish | East Peckham |
| Diocese | Rochester, redundant |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Michael's is an old Anglican church in East Peckham, Kent, England. It is no longer used for regular church services. This means it is a "redundant church."
However, it is a very special building. It is listed as a Grade II* building. This means it is historically important. The church is open for everyone to visit.
Contents
History of St Michael's Church
The land where St Michael's stands has a long history. In 961, a queen named Eadgifu of Kent gave the land of Peckham to monks. There was already a church here by the time of the Domesday Book. This book was a big survey of England made in 1086.
Building the Church Over Time
The oldest parts of the church you see today are from the mid-1100s. These are the north walls of the nave and chancel. The nave is the main part of the church where people sit. The chancel is the area near the altar.
The chancel was made longer in the late 1100s. By the mid-1200s, a south aisle was added. An aisle is a passage along the side of the church.
In the late 1200s, a small chapel was built. This chapel was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It was next to the chancel.
Adding the Tower and Porch
The church's tower was built in the early 1300s. This tower once had a very tall spire on top. A spire is a tall, pointed roof. Sadly, a big storm in 1704 destroyed this tall spire. A smaller spirelet was put in its place.
The porch was added around 1500. This is the covered entrance to the church. You can still see parts of an old sundial on the porch. A sundial tells time using the sun's shadow. It stopped being used when a clock was put inside the church.
Later Changes and Restoration
In the early 1800s, a vestry was added. A vestry is a room in a church used for changing clothes or storing things.
The church was also "restored" by the Victorians. This means it was repaired and updated in 1853 and 1863. St Michael's was officially listed as a Grade II* building in 1959. It was declared redundant in 1973.
Church Bells
St Michael's has a set of six bells. These bells are used for something called change ringing. This is a special way of ringing bells in a changing pattern.
The oldest bell was made in 1747. Two more bells were made in 1785. The heaviest bell was cast in 1812. The lightest bell was made in 1825. The last bell was made in 1890. All these bells were made by the Mears family or their successors. They worked at the famous Whitechapel Bell Foundry.
Memorials and Important People
Inside St Michael's, you can find many memorials. These are special plaques or stones that remember people.
Some of the people remembered here include:
- Richard Etclesley: He died in 1426. He gave a special cup called a chalice to the church.
- The Henham Family: They were farmers in East Peckham. They grew a special type of hop plant called the Henham hop.
- John Norwood VC: He was a very brave soldier. During the Second Boer War, he rescued a friend who had fallen. He did this while under heavy enemy fire. He received the Victoria Cross (VC) for his bravery.
- The Twysden Family: This family owned Roydon Hall, a large estate in East Peckham. Members of this family, like Isabella Twysden and Sir Roger Twysden, wrote about their family burial place at this church. Philip Twysden, who was a bishop, was both baptised and buried here.
- The Whetenhall Stones: These stones remember members of the Whetenhall family. They include memorials for the second and third wives of Thomas Whetenhall.
Visiting St Michael's
The church is open to the public every day. You can visit from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
See also
